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Updated: May 29, 2026

Evaluation of Polymeric Gene Delivery Nanoparticles by Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis and High-throughput Flow Cytometry
Published on: March 1, 2013
Synthesis and properties of a novel biodegradable poly(ester amine) copolymer based on poly(L-lactide) and low
Qing Fa Guo1, Ting Ting Liu, Xi Yan
1State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China.
Background:
Gene therapy is a promising approach to the treatment of a wide range of diseases. The development of efficient and adequate gene delivery systems could be one of the most important factors. Polyethyleneimine, a cationic polymer, is one of the most successful and widely used vectors for nonviral transfection in vitro and in vivo.
Methods:
A novel biodegradable poly(ester amine) copolymer (PEA) was successfully prepared from low molecular weight polyethylenimine (PEI, 2000 Da) and poly(L-lactide) copolymers.
Results:
According to the results of agarose gel electrophoresis, particle size and zeta potential measurement, and transfection efficiency, the PEA copolymers showed a good ability to condense plasmid DNA effectively into nanocomplexes with a small particle size (≤150 nm) and moderate zeta potential (≥10 mV) at an appropriate polymeric carrier/DNA weight ratio. Compared with high molecular weight PEI (25kDa), the PEA obtained showed relatively high gene transfection efficiency as well as low cytotoxicity in vitro.
Conclusion:
These results indicate that such PEA might have potential application as a gene delivery system.

